From ancient nomads to holidaymakers today, Crescent Lake outside the modern-day city of Dunhuang in northwest China’s Gansu Province has always been a refreshing sight. With a rare sprinkling of snow since Wednesday, it’s even more pleasant now. /Chinanews Photo

The tiny freshwater lake is an oasis believed to be about 2,000 years old. It was shrinking fast due to desertification in the region before the local government began to refill it in 2006. /Chinanews Photo

Now it has been preserved as a sight for tourists to take in on camel and all-terrain vehicle rides. /Chinanews Photo

Crescent Lake is just 218 meters long from east to west and 54 meters wide from north to south. /AFP Photo